home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Path: sparky!uunet!cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!igor.rutgers.edu!paul.rutgers.edu!orost
- From: orost@paul.rutgers.edu (Joe)
- Newsgroups: alt.fan.holmes
- Subject: Copper Beeches
- Message-ID: <Nov.17.07.47.16.1992.11206@paul.rutgers.edu>
- Date: 17 Nov 92 12:47:17 GMT
- Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
- Lines: 64
-
- So what are "Copper Beeches"? I kept looking for something metal.
- However, the dictionary now leads me to trees!
-
- According to the book: "A clump of copper beeches immediately in front of
- the hall door has given its name to the place."
-
- BTW, I just bought "The Annotated Sherlock Holmes" for $19.95 in a discount
- warehouse store. It is fascinating! However, its size and weight make it
- somewhat unwieldy.
-
- I find it much more satisfying to read the story AFTER I see the TV show.
- Last week I read it BEFORE and it ruined all of the suspense to the
- show - I found myself just seeing how the show differed from the book. I
- practicly knew every line they uttered!
-
- This week, I saw the Copper Beeches first, then read the story. Much better
- this way. Now I can be held in suspense by the TV show, and still
- enjoy the story: also I do find that some of the annotations in the
- book interrupt the story constantly (i.e., they are always deducing
- from little things when the story took place, and they give descriptions
- of every town and road mentioned).
-
- The TV show added to the suspense by making no mention of the Daughter
- until close to the end. In the book, the daughter was mentioned in the
- (rather lengthy) letter to Violet from J. Rucastle:
-
- "THE COPPER BEECHES, NEAR WINCHESTER.
- "DEAR MISS HUNTER,--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your
- address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have
- reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that
- you should come, for she has been much attracted by my
- description of you. We are willing to give thirty pounds a
- quarter, or L120 a year, so as to recompense you for any little
- inconvenience which our fads may cause you. They are not very
- exacting after all. My wife is fond of a particular shade
- of electric blue, and and would like you to wear such a dress
- indoors in the morning. You need not, however, go to the
- expense of purchasing one, as we have one belonging to my
- dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia) which would, I
- should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting here
- or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that
- need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it
- is no doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking
- its beauty during our short interview, but I am afraid that
- I must remain firm upon this point, and I only hope that the
- increased salary may recompense you for the loss. Your
- duties, as far as the child is concerned, are very light.
- Now do try to come, and I shall meet you with the dog-cart
- at Winchester. Let me know your train.--Your faithfully,
- " JEPHRO RUCASTLE
-
-
- I liked it better NOT knowing what could be in that dreary upstairs
- room.
-
- regards,
- joe
-
- --
- Full Name: Joseph M. Orost
- EMail: joe@echologic.com, orost@paul.rutgers.edu
- Organization: Echo Logic
- SurfaceMail: 943 Holmdel Rd.; Cruz Plaza; Holmdel, NJ 07733
- Phone: +1 (908) 946-1115
-